Sharp criticism after New York newspaper publishes names of local gun owners

Other critics have suggested that the published information also points to the addresses that don’t have registered handguns – perhaps making them more of a target for armed criminals. “It reveals to criminals which homes *are not* protected by a firearm,” tweeted conservative talk-show host Tammy Bruce.

Many commenters on Facebook and other social media weighed in, some publicizing the names and home addresses of Journal News editors and reporters.

“This is CRAZY!!” one reader wrote on the newspaper’s website. “Why in the world would you post every licensed gun owner information?? What do you hope to accomplish by doing this. This is the type of thing you do for sex offenders not law abiding gun owners. What next? Should I hang a flag outside my house that says I own a gun? I am canceling my subscription with your paper today!!!”

“This is precisely why gun owners reject the registration of rifles and shotguns and quite frankly handguns,” wrote another. “First it's Registration and Intimidation. Then it's Confiscation, or Incarceration & Genocide soon follows. Beware. It's the norm in world history and not an anomaly! This is how it starts!”

One woman wrote, "I'd rather have a gun owner as my neighbor then a journalist, one is far more responsible than the other."

The newspaper said it received hundreds of phone calls “claiming publication of the database put their safety at risk or violated their privacy.”

“Others claimed publication was illegal,” the newspaper reported on Christmas Day, a few days after the initial story and map were published. “Many of the callers were vitriolic and some threatened members of the newspaper staff.”